Tag Archives: Saleen 1

High-performance automaker entered its new turbocharged mid-engine car in two professional races, January 18-19 at Thermal Club

Saleen 1 GT4 concept outperformed all vehicles in the GT4 class, while collecting data for homologation process with SRO Motorsports

THERMAL, Calif. (January 21, 2020) – The world’s newest race car designed to compete in GT4 racing made its official track debut this weekend during the second round of the Winter Invitational Series, Jan. 18-19, at the Thermal Club in the California desert.

High-performance vehicle manufacturer Saleen Automotive officially debuted its new Saleen 1 GT4 concept at two professional races, with a factory entry driven by Dominic Cicero, an experienced professional racing driver and head driving instructor at the Thermal Club.

Saleen entered the unique new racing series as an opportunity to further develop its GT4 concept while the vehicle is undergoing homologation approval process with the Stéphane Ratel Organisation (SRO), in advance of the full 2020 GT4 season.

“Our intention with entering these races was to continue development of the Saleen 1 GT4 concept and collect data to assist the homologation process with SRO,” explained Gabriele Cadringher, director of motorsport at Saleen Automotive. “We knew the car would be very competitive within the GT4 class, but the results even exceeded our expectations.”

“We’re thrilled with our results this weekend,” said Steve Saleen, CEO and founder of Saleen Automotive. “There’s no greater test for performance and reliability than a live race and seeing our car outperform the entire GT4 field at both races this weekend was gratifying after months of testing and development work. We look forward to finalizing the homologation process with SRO and seeing the Saleen 1 on the grid at racetracks worldwide.”

Saleen’s GT4 Concept was unveiled in October 2019 at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas as a dedicated racing version of the Saleen 1 production model, with updates designed to comply with GT4 series specifications. The Saleen GT4 concept features updates to the car’s front splitter and fenders, plus new advanced rear diffuser to improve aerodynamics. Per GT4 specifications, a large rear wing is included to add maximum downforce and traction. Saleen’s GT4 concept car also offers front and rear anti-lock braking systems and other GT4-specific equipment.

The Winter Invitational Series by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation (SRO) offers an excellent introduction to SRO’s various series including GT World Challenge, GT Sports Club, Pirelli GT4 America, and TC America. The series includes three events, from December 2019 through February 2020 at the Thermal Club in California. For more information on the series, visit Race.World-Challenge.com.

For more information on the Saleen Cup, visit www.SaleenCup.com. For more information on the Saleen 1 model, visit www.Saleen.com, or follow Saleen on social by using on Facebook at Facebook.com/Saleen, or by using @Saleen on Twitter and @Saleen on Instagram.

About Saleen Automotive, Inc.

Saleen is dedicated to transforming the transportation experience. For over 36 years, the California-based automotive manufacturer has redefined driving through high-performing vehicles that combine championship-winning racing pedigree with innovative technology and distinctive styling.

From the first Saleen Mustang in 1984 to the legendary S7 in 2000 and the groundbreaking new Saleen 1, company founder Steve Saleen has continually set the bar for vehicle design and performance engineering on streets and racetracks worldwide. In addition to its distinctive Saleen Signature and Saleen Original vehicle lines, Saleen offers a wide variety of technical parts, lifestyle accessories and apparel for those with a passion for performance. Learn more at www.saleen.com.

The Saleen 1 Cup Racer is 1 of 20 exclusive race cars built for the inaugural Saleen Cup series. The Cup Racer has revised aerodynamics including a new front splitter and competition rear wing. Power is still delivered by a 2.2L turbocharged 4 cylinder, but re-calibrated to racing specifications. The interior features all safety equipment and rollover protection, as well as a Formula 1 style steering wheel with paddle shifters.

All 20 cars are identical with the exception of the distinct liveries featuring iconic, Saleen historical and contemporary designs.

Seeing the need for a true “Driver’s Car” Saleen launches the Saleen 1 –the first all-original Saleen vehicle since the S7.

This mid-engined, two seat, independent suspension vehicle is the next generation of a true sports car. Featuring an all aluminum light weight chassis combined with a carbon fiber body results in an impressive vehicle weight of less than 2700 lbs.

Paul Terry of Nephi, Utah and Carter Fartuch of Schnecksville, Pa. topped the final points-race after three events at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Oct. 18-20, each becoming category champions in the inaugural Saleen Cup, a single-make racing series by Saleen Automotive.

Carter Fartuch earned his first GT championship racing title in the “Young Drivers” class with consistent results throughout the inaugural season. With previous experience in other racing series and karting, driving in the Saleen Cup represented a chance to compete in high-level GT racing, with a factory seat driving in GT4 with Saleen next year.

“This season has been career-changing and has helped shape where my racing career is going,” said Saleen Cup ‘Young Drivers’ champion Carter Fartuch. “Saleen has been like a family this season and that kind of teamwork will be important next year in GT4. I look forward to the chance to win in the GT4 Series, driving for such an iconic racing brand.”

Paul Terry topped the “Pro-Amateur” category in the Saleen Cup, with consistent results throughout the inaugural season. A veteran driver in numerous other GT series and racing programs, Terry entered the Saleen Cup for a chance to win a factory seat driving in GT4 for Saleen.

“I’m looking forward to driving the GT4 car next year,” said Saleen Cup “Pro-Amateur” champion Paul Terry. “Saleen has a great racing heritage and I look forward to helping the brand bring home a title in GT4 next year.”

The Saleen Cup series was introduced to demonstrate the new Saleen 1 sports car while offering a professional-quality racing experience for drivers in two distinct classes. The “Pro-Am Drivers” class includes experienced racers, while a “Young Drivers” class gives prospective young drivers an opportunity to start a career in professional motorsports. As category champions in the Saleen Cup, both Terry and Fartuch will each secure a factory seat driving in Saleen’s GT4 entry for the entire 2020 season.

Following a make-up race on Friday, the Saleen Cup continued Saturday, Oct. 19 with a race won by Cameron Lawrence in the “Young Drivers” category and newcomer Bill Hynes in the “Pro-Am” class. A final race on Sunday, Oct. 20 saw close competition with a shared car between #6 Johan Schwartz and Bryce Miller winning the “Pro-Am” class and Carter Fartuch taking top position in the “Young Drivers” category, along with the championship title.

Las Vegas Results – Saturday, Oct. 19:

Pro-Am Drivers

First Place – (#10) Bill Hynes

Second Place – (#36) Lawrence Loshak

Third Place – (#55) Matthew Keegan / Kris Wilson

Young Drivers

First Place – (#19) Cameron Lawrence

Second Place – (#18) Carter Fartuch

Third Place – (#12) Austin Riley

Las Vegas Results – Sunday, Oct. 20:

Pro-Am Drivers

First Place – (#6) Johan Schwartz / Bryce Miller

Second Place – (#4) Paul Terry

Third Place – (#25) Lindsay Brewer / Zoey Edenholm

Young Drivers

First Place – (#18) Carter Fartuch

Second Place – (#12) Austin Riley

Third Place – (#71) Cameron Lawrence

As the official return to professional-level motorsports for Saleen Automotive, the Saleen Cup series paves the way for the company’s first entry into GT4 in 2020. Earlier this week, Saleen unveiled its new GT4 Concept vehicle in Las Vegas, a turnkey track version of the Saleen 1 mid-engine sports car, developed specifically for racing in the GT4 category.

“With the Saleen Cup series, we set out to back our reputation as a leading name in motorsports, and also prove the racing capabilities of the Saleen 1 – and ultimately we succeeded on both goals,” explained Steve Saleen, CEO and founder of Saleen Automotive. “We are incredibly proud of our drivers and team for a great inaugural season and look forward to even more racing action next year in the Saleen 1.”

2019 Saleen Cup – Final Points Standings “Pro-Am Drivers” Class

Paul Terry – Nephi, Utah (107 points)

Brandon Davis – Sonoma, Calif. (92 points)

Eric Powell – Orlando, Fla. (88 points)

2019 Saleen Cup – Final Points Standings “Young Drivers” Class

Carter Fartuch – Schnecksville, Pa. (141 points)

Austin Riley – Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada (141 points)

Cameron Lawrence – Windermere, Fla. (107 points)

Tying for the points lead in the “Young Drivers” category was Austin Riley of Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada. The 20-year-old driver maintained a consistent, strong season with three race wins and a podium finish at every event in the 2019 Saleen Cup schedule. To celebrate his impressive first season, Steve Saleen awarded Riley with the Scholarship Award, including a $25,000 prize and sponsored entry throughout the 2020 Saleen Cup schedule.

“We’re serious about our commitment to bringing up the next generation of racing drivers,” said Steve Saleen. “This is a development series for the cars and the drivers and Austin showed impressive progress and natural talent throughout the season. We look forward to having him back racing with Saleen next year.”

As a single-make series with an “arrive and drive” format, the Saleen Cup delivers a professional-quality racing experience, with a grid of fully prepared Saleen 1 Cup Cars featuring Iconic, Contemporary and Saleen racing liveries. Full trackside support and hospitality amenities add to the professional-level racing experience. The Saleen Cup is presented via a partnership with SRO Motorsports Group, and runs concurrently with the Blancpain GT World Challenge America. Trackside tire support for the entire Saleen Cup is provided by series sponsor Continental Tires.

For more information on the Saleen Cup, visit www.SaleenCup.com. For more information on the Saleen 1 model, visit www.Saleen.com, or follow Saleen on social by using on Facebook at Facebook.com/Saleen, or by using @Saleen on Twitter and @Saleen on Instagram.

About Saleen Automotive, Inc.

Saleen is dedicated to transforming the transportation experience. For over 35 years, the California-based automotive manufacturer has redefined driving through high-performing vehicles that combine championship-winning racing pedigree with innovative technology and distinctive styling.

From the first Saleen Mustang in 1984 to the legendary S7 in 2000 and the groundbreaking new Saleen 1, founder Steve Saleen has continually set the bar for vehicle design and performance engineering on streets and racetracks worldwide. In addition to its distinctive Saleen Signature and Saleen Original vehicle lines, Saleen offers a wide variety of technical parts, lifestyle accessories and apparel for those with a passion for performance. Learn more at www.saleen.com.

“Young Drivers” category champion Carter Fartuch of Schnecksville, Pa. leads the field through the chicane at Las Vegas Motor Speedway during the final event of the 2019 Saleen Cup Racing Series. (Photo: Saleen Automotive)

The first practice of the day is in the books! We’re looking forward to a great weekend of racing. All races starting with tonight’s makeup race will be live streamed here: live.sro-america.com/saleen-cup. Tune in at 5:30 PT today, 3:50 PT Saturday, and 1:30 PT on Sunday!

High-performance automaker introduces new factory-built race car concept based on Saleen 1 model, designed to compete in SRO Motorsport Group’s GT4 Series

New turnkey track cars to be manufactured in California by Saleen and available for order immediately following homologation approval by SRO

The Saleen GT4 concept is a specially-built racing versions of the new Saleen 1 turbocharged, mid-engine sports car, designed to compete in GT4 racing series worldwide. (Photo: Brett Turnage)

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (Oct 18, 2019) — One of the most legendary names in GT racing will soon return to the starting grid at the world’s most prestigious racetracks with an original new machine designed specifically for track competition.

At a press conference and demonstration event held yesterday at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Saleen Automotive announced it will soon offer specially-built versions of it’s new Saleen 1 turbocharged, mid-engine sports car designed to compete in GT4 racing series worldwide.

The new Saleen GT4 concept model – which will be built at Saleen’s Corona, Calif.-based facilities starting in November 2019 – is based on a dedicated racing version of the Saleen 1 model, which debuted in the 2019 Saleen Cup racing series. The single-make “arrive and drive” series concludes its inaugural season with a grand finale event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, October 18-20.

Saleen’s GT4 concept features distinct changes from the standard production model Saleen 1, including updates designed to comply with GT4 series specifications. The Saleen GT4 concept features updates to the car’s front splitter and fenders, plus new advanced rear diffuser to improve aerodynamics. Per GT4 specifications, a large rear wing is included to add maximum downforce and traction. Saleen’s GT4 concept car also offers front and rear anti-lock braking systems and other GT4-specific equipment.

“We developed the Saleen 1 to be fully capable on the track and easily adapt to racing applications,” said Steve Saleen, CEO and founder of Saleen Automotive. “Our company was founded on racing DNA and the track is where we prove our reputation. We look forward to completing the homologation process with SRO and seeing these cars compete at GT4 events around the world.”

The GT4 category was created by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation (SRO) in 2007 to offer a championship that featured a wider range of manufacturers and better affordability than other racing series. Starting with an initial series in Europe, GT4 racing has expanded worldwide with additional championships in the United Kingdom, North America, Asia and Australia.

“The Saleen Cup has been an important and exciting addition to our race weekends in 2019 and we look forward to the Saleen GT4 joining our Pirelli GT4 America grids in 2020,” said Greg Gill, President and CEO of SRO America.

“We found during the inaugural Saleen Cup season, our test session lap times were already competitive with the top GT4 times, regardless of the track,” said Saleen Director of Motorsports Gabriele Cadringher. “The performance of the Saleen 1 has exceeded even our high expectations and we expect this car to be very competitive in GT4 next year.”

Once Saleen’s GT4 concept car completes homologation approval and begins production, the expected price for each car will be $225,000. For information on pre-ordering, please contact Gabriele Cadringher at gcadringher@saleen.com or call (800) 888-8945.

Saleen is dedicated to transforming the transportation experience. For over 35 years, the California-based automotive manufacturer has redefined driving through high-performing vehicles that combine championship-winning racing pedigree with innovative technology and distinctive styling.

From the first Saleen Mustang in 1984 to the legendary S7 in 2000 and the groundbreaking new Saleen 1, company founder Steve Saleen has continually set the bar for vehicle design and performance engineering on streets and racetracks worldwide. In addition to its distinctive Saleen Signature and Saleen Original vehicle lines, Saleen offers a wide variety of technical parts, lifestyle accessories and apparel for those with a passion for performance. Learn more at www.saleen.com.

About SRO Motorsports Group

The global leader in GT racing. With more than 25 years’ experience at the forefront of a continuously evolving industry, SRO Motorsports Group is the established international leader in GT racing.

Best known for the development and implementation of the GT3 and GT4 regulations, SRO promotes and organizes championships that embrace professional and amateur competitors. Its portfolio of highly regarded series spans Europe, America and Asia, while its flagship Intercontinental GT Challenge features events on five different continents.

The 2019 season will see more than 100 races run under the SRO Motorsports Group banner, highlighted by the prestigious Total 24 Hours of Spa. In addition to promotion and organization, the company operates SRO Race Centre by MMC – a high-level technical centre at Circuit Paul Ricard – and provides the ultimate driving opportunities at world-renowned facilities through Curbstone Track Events.

SRO Motorsports Group is chaired by company founder and CEO Stephane Ratel. With offices in London, Paris, Liège, Austin, and Hong Kong, its work is facilitated by a dedicated global team of full-time and freelance staff.

Combining a passion for performance with industry-leading experience, SRO is ready to play a key role in shaping the future of international GT racing.

The Saleen GT4 concept is a specially-built racing versions of the new Saleen 1 turbocharged, mid-engine sports car, designed to compete in GT4 racing series worldwide. (Photo: Brett Turnage)

Saleen’s GT4 concept features a range of distinct changes from the standard production model Saleen 1, designed to comply with GT4 series specifications. The new model features updates to the front splitter and fenders, plus rear diffuser to improve aerodynamics and a large rear wing to add maximum downforce and traction. (Photo: Brett Turnage)